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that you are in the basement. If you home does not naturally have
the grade, retaining walls can be installed on either side of the doors
so that you can walk out and get to grade. Six, if you have the green
to build a new home and want to have a family room in your basement,
plan on a deeper basement than normal. This takes care of the
ductwork issue right away.
Rochelle has quite a portfolio of basement
makeovers. Her clients have requested custom
home theaters with theater seating and giant
screens, wine cellars with cozy tasting areas, and
man caves. “We put a beautiful bar in one space
with a wood stove. The homeowner was a hunter and had all of his
trophies displayed on the walls. Another part of the space included
a game room where we had a pool table, darts, and ping pong. He
could walk outside and enjoy a cigar.” One client requested a complete
basement overhaul complete with a wine cellar/tasting area,
exercise room, home office, and billiards room. There was a wet bar
where guests could fill a glass of wine or get a drink as opposed to
having a bartender setup. Another homeowner wanted a finished
basement for the ladies. The client installed a built-in swimming
pool with retaining walls adjacent to sliding glass doors. From the
pool, you go into the basement to find a very upscale locker room.
The basement includes two changing rooms, a shower, and an exercise
room with painted wood. Rochelle’s most memorable basement
makeover was a truly livable space. The design list included bedrooms
with fireplaces, a sitting area, a bathroom, a sleeping room, a full bar,
a movie theater, a gorgeous wine cellar, and a card room. There even
was a large room with a fireplace where the homeowner often entertained.
It had enough room to accommodate a guest band.
When it comes to decor in your new basement space, Better
Homes and Gardens offers some creative additions. Add some windows
to your space. They will bring in natural light and add charm.
Window treatments can be added to frame the windows. For your
standard concrete walls, add some thought provoking art. To create
functional spaces, you can add built-in dividers. Some ideas include
bookshelves, unique shelving, storage cabinets, or a custom cabinet.
Add some wainscoting to your basement. This could be a ledge for
accent pieces or texture on walls. Last but not least, you can dress up
the load bearing poles in the basement to match the style of your
new room.
So forget the horrid paneling, Styrofoam looking suspended
ceilings, and orange shag carpeting—that is ancient history. Today’s
basements should flow with the home’s design. Whether you want
a family room area, cozy reading nook, or a modern guest suite with
a deep fireplace, there are so many possibilities for your new basement
space. For more information from Justin Simonet of Justin’s
Carpentry & Home Improvements LLC, you can visit Facebook
and Houzz. For Susan M. Rochelle, AIA, Architect, log onto
www.susanrochellearchitect.com.
MARY BETH SCHWARTZ IS A FREELANCE WRITER WHO FREQUENTLY CON-
TRIBUTES TO REGIONAL PUBLICATIONS.
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